Page 98 of Cruel Fate

An angry voice carries to me, and instinctively, I tuck myself around a corner and out of sight. I learned at a young age to gauge people’s moods. You could earn a slap or worse if you have the misfortune of being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

“Just do what I say.”

It’s Ash, and he sounds livid.

“Why tonight? Can’t I have one evening of my own?”

Zarah. She’s crying.

“Because, you fucking whore, I said so.”

I press my lips together. I knew Ash was an asshole. It doesn’t matter how vehemently Zane denies it. I clutch at the fabric of my dress in vain. Finally, I have the proof I need for Zane to believe me, but I left my phone in my purse on the table where we ate dinner and I don’t want to leave Zarah to go get it.

Carefully, I peer around the corner.

She’s standing on a step making her eye-level with that rat bastard, and he grips her arm. Even from here, I can see the marks he’s pushing into her skin.

He shakes her. “Do you know how much money the princess of King’s Crossing is worth? Do you have any idea how much I sell my fiancée for?” Leaning into her face, he says, “A cool million a night. You can spread your sweet little thighs for that much.”

Tears stream down her face. “He hits and kicks me. Please, Ash.”

I bite the inside of my cheek until I taste blood. Ash is pimping Zarah out. I should tell Zane, but he would never believe me. I know he wouldn’t. I step back. What Ash does isn’t any of my business and I turn to go, but Zarah is my friend.

“I told him to leave your face alone. Now go.”

I lean against the wall, my heart pounding erratically. I peer around the corner.

Zarah’s standing on the landing between the two sets of stairs. Her shoulders are shaking, and a keycard shines in her hand. She’s wearing the red dress she bought at the vintage boutique, and her bronzed skin glitters, despite her pallor. She’s beautiful, the heiress of Maddox Industries. Twenty-one years old in a couple of weeks.

Worth a million dollars a screw.

And whatever else they want to do to her.

Ash leans against the gleaming wood bannister watching Zarah trudge up the carpeted stairs.

If I wait any longer, she’ll be gone. A victim of abuse. Rape. God knows what else.

“Stop!” I step around the corner, my chin up.Don’t let him see your fear.“Ash, let her go.”

His eyes take on a dangerous sheen, and a huge pit forms in my stomach.

He smiles, but I’ve never seen anything more lethal. “Stella. To what do I owe this surprising pleasure?”

Zarah stops on the second floor and stares down at me.

“I heard everything. Let her go, and I won’t tell Zane.”

Ash laughs. “Are you serious? Oh, she’s serious. Zarah, your little friend thinks she can stop me from selling your sweet pussy. How brave...” He steps toward me, putting himself directly in my path. I don’t dare back up. I can’t let him see I’mscared. He already has the upper hand. He wraps his fingers around my throat and applies just enough pressure to hurt. “How stupid.”

My nostrils flare. He smells like a bar, but his hard eyes are sober.

“Zane won’t believe a goddamned thing you tell him.”

I blink, and sweat slides down my back.

“You know I’m right, don’t you? Why would he believe a little slut off the street that he’s known for two weeks? I’m his childhood friend who’s in love with his sister and has made a promise to love and protect her until death do us part. He’d kick your ass to the curb before he believed a bad word about me or my family.”

My eyes water. He’s cutting off my air supply, and bright dots explode in my vision.

---